Spring update

Hi friends and extended team.
As our work together continues to grow, we're trying to keep you much better informed so that you can pray intelligently and plan in faith with us. It's our plan do this principly through Spring and Autumn updates. This Spring update will come in 3 parts.

• 1) Photoblog and review of recent Odessa trip 
• 2) Lessons from our partners in the gospel
• 3) The plans for October and beyond.

We hope this will be helpful, but as always things are continually moving so if you want "up to date info" personal or project/ location specific stuff more appropriate for your situation, please don't hesitate to get in touch. (Please be aware that there are many things too sensitive to share on a public forum like this). 


PART 1: Photoblog and review of mission trip (April 27th-May11th 2019)
Mission goals:

• To encourage individuals in shelter ministry in times of transition and challenge
• To encourage the wider church in it's gospel work, initiatives and training.
• To forward the work of the camp and pastoral/ training ministries at the BlackSea camp.

Shelter ("Priut") ministry and Transition house 

A season of change. 

• Many of you will be aware that Pieter and Lydia are now enjoying a well earned season of rest with family in America following their extensive ministry with young people and the work to expand the ministry (particularly the huge effort of building transition house). We are thrilled to hear that despite early and short term emotional upheaval (absolutely expected given their immense personal and gospel legacy in the country they love so much) both are now very happy, content and settled in their new home. Of course we missed them this trip but we are so thankful to God they remain a blessing to so many and will be such an encouragement to others in their "retirement". Pray for our dear brother and sister, and the legacy that follows them in so many folk in Ukraine.
• It was so good to meet the new team and get to know them much better. I cannot give all the details here for obvious reasons of sensitivity - but here are just some of the folks you should pray for... Viktor is "da man!" faithful minbus driver, head of security (and health and safety) , traditional Russian ice cream connoisseur, loving Dad to many, owner of numerous lovely but sizeable dogs and above all warm gospel hearted man who loves his country and those that God has placed in his care. This big man has a big heart, and is one of the main drivers (no pun intended) in this growing gospel work. Pray for him and his wife (Aleysha). Their work is never in vain, but highly emotionally demanding and always costly in many ways. They love Christ, and because they love him, and have hearts like him they love those who are rejected, mistreated and rejected by this world. Nata is the loving and caring mother hen looking after all who presently seek refuge at transition house. Despite present illness (pray for recovery from a long ear and sinus infection) we became aware first hand as a team that she is a constant encouragement of smiles and kindness in her ability and ministry to make many guests welcome. She has her own heavy family responsibilities, but took time out (when she should've been resting) to make us the most astounding cheesecake. It is amazing how tea and cake overcomes every cultural and language barrier for the brits.

Before...

After..

• For some of the children this is also a time of change and challenge. Some individuals have gone to live with new adoptive parents who care and provide in marvellous and beautiful ways. Although there are mixed emotions when any young person moves on from the large family, we are so thankful to God that their new homes present a huge stabilising presence in their young lives, and are a tangible evidence of God's ongoing provision, and answer to prayers for them.
• The present political, socio-geographical and financial situation is "variable" at best. All of this has a knock on effect on the economy and daily needs of individuals. It is hard enough looking after 1 or 2 children in this situation. To consider looking after the needs of many children (healthy food is increasingly expensive, and medical care can be costly and unexpected) is a heavy burden which needs courageous faith, and knowledge of the sustained helping hand of God. 
• Pray for all parents in this ministry, (particularly those not named here). 
• Pray also for those who have the emotional demands of not only caring for many but are having to turn away an increasing number (100's) of children and young people who desperately need the help of this ministry.  

OUR ROLE:

• ENCOURAGEMENT: We had the inimitable privilege of sitting down over meals  with parents and children at the shelter. We heard their hearts as well as their stories (of sadness, challenges, failures and faith steps). We had the privilege of sharing God's word and encouraging them to not grow weary in doing good. We shared Psalm 56 together...

(v4) "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (v10-11) " 

"In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. 

What can man do to me?.

It is one thing to say you trust in the sovereignty of God but something entirely different to act on it, especially when everything you are and need depends on it.

• Mo had an amazing ministry of encouragement with many of the women here - her hugs, smiles, presents and practical expressions of love left a legacy of warmth and affection wherever she went and with whoever she met. Not only were we glad (as 4 blokes) to have Mo with us on this trip, but many women were also, and if you are a women considering helping us in this way - don't hesitate to chat with us. This is a vital and exceptionally useful part of this ministry. 
• We had the privilege of sharing some of the gifts  and practical helps we'd brought with us. As normal, the team were amazing in what they had brought with them (large suitcases for gifts, small ones for all the needs of a building trip lasting two weeks). I praise God for such wonderful friends and team mates. Some of the team accidentally on purpose left some things behind, do pray that these will encourage and meet the needs of those who have need of them. 
• Keep praying for the ministry in it's daily needs, particularly the cost of healthy foods and health care. We would love to be a help to specific situations of unexpected need (we are aware this is a growing burden). If you would like to help in this (however small - please get in touch and we can help you do so... ensuring that any contributions are entirely used for this purpose) 
• Keep praying for the ongoing progression of the new team: A question I always want to ask in such a ministry is - who pastors those who care ? (and pay the cost of hurting and caring). Pray that such a role will continually be provided and the work that grace church (its pastors and leaders) and the wider church does in this regard. 

A season of expansion. 

• As stated on our trip, the plan is to expand (double) the care from 40-50 young people to 100. Is this a pipe dream which won't be implemented or a step of faith for which God will provide?

The answer is in these foundations of future ministry: 

This is the site of the 3 (hopefully 4) new homes being built to accommodate the new friends of the ministry. We are grateful to our very precious brothers and sisters who are providing for this ministry (you know who you are - we love you for it ) and partnering at such a critical time. The need for this ministry at this time is increasing dramatically, but as the need increases so does the provision of God. We hope and expect the new homes  to be up and running this Autumn. To some this will appear to be just a pile of breeze blocks, but to others this is a tangible expression of the ongoing faithfulness of God. 

1 Samuel 7:12 

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. 

He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far THE Lord has helped us.”

A season of encouragement. 

• The work is going extremely well and the new team are functioning well together as a unit despite, the many ongoing changes, the fast pace of needs and progression of each young person. The children have never looked happier, healthier and more confident. We had the pleasure of their company on some jobs at the camp - and can report unreservedly they do not lack health or energy. They are lovely children and the way they look after each other in the family is incredibly wonderful to witness, and a credit to the parents.

Encouraging the wider gospel work in Ukraine:

• The nature of short term mission trips is that people swan in to help others who are daily at the coalface and who do the "real work" and "hard yards" of being faithful where God has placed them. We are under no illusions as a team, that we play but a small part in what God is doing in other countries, and therefore we target specifically what would be of most timely, symbolic, strategic and practical help - a gift in season to encourage the workers to "keep going"!

• Our construction work this trip focussed on the Family block at the Black Sea camp as a follow up to our last trip which resurrected this project which had been stalled for 7 years.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Following on from the essential reconstruction of the interior last time, we completed the 8 internal walls of bathrooms and side rooms. After filling sanding and sealing we were able work hard at fitting the tiles that we'd managed to acquire for this trip. They are a classy look worthy of what has become known as the "VIP suite". The side rooms including bathrooms also now have nice finished fixtures in fitted ceilings. The overall look is really pleasing - quality on a budget - considerably better than many of us had first envisaged when we arrived at the shell of a building site less than a year ago. 

• Mo worked tremendously hard at tackling the outside wilderness, chopping back trees and shaping the walkways for youth height so many a "selfie" can be taken and enjoyed.

  

  
  

  Special mention should be made of our Ukrainian friends who worked tirelessly. Young Ura was a complete star ! He "strimmed" all day (and probably all night in his sleep too) until the grounds looked brilliant ! Also our great Vitali - the big man did good ! Mixing up his special buckets of delicious tile cement, floor scree and filler all day kept us going on the job and got through a fair stack of raw materials. Not only did he faithfully sand down a tonne load of filler to straighten out walls and prepare them for plastering but he turned his hand to an altogether more delicate matter - that of cooking our shish kebab for tea.

I do apologise that we can't provide svellovision as a feature on our blog at this time, but believe me both smell and taste were worth being caked in concrete for. 

Ceiling and loft hatch

Tiling and plumbing ready for basins. New natural stone floor tiles provide a quality finish and feel to each bathroom. When they are cleaned up and grouted these rooms provide a space to rival many a hotel. 

Many, many tiles cut with precision and care one by one.
Den enjoyed the perfection of this one especially !!!

As per usual the hospitality, welcome, food, and kindness of our hosts was outstanding. The new kitchen team excelling at making this a place where people will want to return. It gives something of a vision of how this place could be used in God's purposes. Do pray that many will come here for many years to come. That they will come to know Christ in a deep way on this site, that those who don't yet know him will find their treasure in him, and those who do will go on to pastor, lead, inspire, feed, and nurture the future church of Ukraine.

For now we leave the site knowing that we have done what we could to encourage this ministry. Plastering can now be done and the rooms look considerably more like they were originally intended - the end is in sight. There is more that could be done (not least laminate flooring, doorways and Lino etc) but for now our ministry here is complete unless another team is provided for next year. The bulk of our resources and teams may now need to channel efforts elsewhere - so do pray for the ongoing work and ministry on site as camps start. Pray for the cooks, evangelists, bible study leaders, pastoral workers, plasterers tile polishers and youth leaders who follow on our heels. Pray big prayers, knowing that our God is bigger than we can understand in his capacity to save, grow and produce fruitfulness in his church.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen' (Ephesians 3:20–21)